Film mulching optimizes the early root and shoot development of rain‐fed spring maize

Abstract

Full ridge‐furrow plastic film‐mulching (FM) is a key agriculture drought mitigation technique in the semiarid Loess Plateau of China. The establishment of high‐yield maize (Zea mays L.) population under FM is built on robust plant development and indispensable soil support that generally started from the seedling stage. However, there is still a lack of information on the root‐shoot development of maize seedling under FM. A 2‐yr field experiment was performed in rainfed plots of Loess Plateau experimental station to study the effects of FM on root‐shoot growth of maize seedlings. Root samples were harvested from different soil layers until max rooting depth at V3 and V6 stages to detail the vertical development. Our results implied that FM significantly improved soil hydrothermal conditions and canopy development at V3 and V6 stages. At the V3 stage, there was no significant difference in root biomass between treatments or growth seasons, but root length under FM treatment was decreased by about 17%; moreover, ridge‐furrow without mulching (CK) treatment intended to distribute 4–9% more root biomass in deeper soil layers, and the root biomass per unit length under FM treatment was increased. At the V6 stage, FM brought about significant advantages in root biomass and length. Nonetheless, maize seedlings under FM treatment had a consistently lower root/shoot ratio, higher root efficiency, and higher water use efficiency during the V3–V6 period. In conclusion, FM helped rainfed maize seedlings run a lightweight but high‐efficiency root to support its productive shoot since the very beginning.

Energy Compensation for Crop Growth under Plastic Mulching: Theories, Models, and Limitations

“…As one layer of physical barrier, PM can influence soil surface temperature in the following ways: (1) PM can hinder heat exchange near the soil surface and inhibit latent heat loss caused by evaporation; (2) the long-wave solar radiation during daytime cannot pass through the mulching film and may be reflected into the air near the ground, which is converted into heat energy and raises the air temperature near the soil surface; (3) shortwave radiation can penetrate through the cover film layer to the ground, by which some is converted into heat energy, resulting in temperature increases; and (4) PM at night can inhibit long-wave radiation from the ground, reducing soil heat loss, and partially promote heat transfer to the deep soil via heat conduction [47][48][49][50]. The above cumulative effects increase the net radiant heat income and effectively increase the soil temperature.…”

Effect of Different Types of Mulching on Soil Properties and Tree Growth of Magnolia champaca Planted at the Montane Rainforest in Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia

“…e most significant root concentration is located at the soil surface where the soil is loose, and water, oxygen, and nutrients are most easily accessible [62]. idar et al [63] and Yao et al [54] observed that most vertically found roots were in organic and plastic mulching treatments at the top 0-30 cm soil depth and horizontally 0-15 cm distance from the plant foundation. Also, Schenk and Jackson [52] reported annual succulents had very shallow rooting depths.…”